Vented Dispensing Device

ABSTRACT

The dispensing device provides dispensable material in a closable container in concert with a corresponding accessory so that the container and the accessory can be commonly stored when not in use, and further provides a ventilated storage volume within the device that can facilitate drying and aerating the accessory.

This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 12/712,569filed Feb. 25, 2010. Application Ser. No. 12/712,569 claimed priorityfrom application Ser. No. 61/155,432 filed Feb. 25, 2009. ApplicationsSer. Nos. 12/712,569 and 61/155,432 are hereby incorporated byreference.

The vented dispensing device can provide dispensable material in aclosable container in concert with a suitable applicator so that thecontainer and the applicator can be cooperatively stored when not inuse. The dispensing device can further provide a ventilated storagevolume within the device that can facilitate drying the applicator, forexample when the dispensed container contents comprise liquids, and foraerating the applicator, for example to minimize mold growth and otherunwanted conditions that can be minimized by air flow. Other benefitscan be realized by the ventilated storage volume configuration beyondthe aforementioned, including but not limited to dispersing fragranceand masking environmental odor.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one embodiment, the vented dispensing device can comprise adispensing accessory and a container. The container can comprise adispensing nozzle for dispensing container contents, and a vented coverfor retaining the dispensing accessory proximal to the container. Thevented cover in use can connect to the container and can define anaccessory storage volume between the vented cover and the container. Thevented cover can have a vent opening extending through the vented coverto ventilate the storage volume; and at least part of the dispensingaccessory can be confined within the storage volume when the ventedcover is in use.

In another embodiment, the vented dispensing device can comprise adispensing accessory and a container. The container can comprise adispensing nozzle for dispensing container contents. The dispensingnozzle can have a trigger and a trigger cap, where the trigger cap canbe connected to the container and spaced apart from the trigger. Thetrigger cap in use can limit contact between the dispensing accessoryand the trigger. The container can further comprise a vented cover forretaining the dispensing accessory proximal to the container. The ventedcover in use can connect to the container and can define an accessorystorage volume between the vented cover and the container. The ventedcover can have at least one vent opening extending through the ventedcover to ventilate the storage volume, and at least part of thedispensing accessory can be confined within the storage volume when thevented cover is in use.

In another embodiment, the vented dispensing device can comprise adispensing accessory and a container. The container can comprise anozzle end, a reservoir end, and a trunk connecting the nozzle end andthe reservoir end. The container can further comprise a dispensingnozzle connected to the nozzle end, the nozzle for dispensing containercontents. The nozzle can comprise a trigger, with the trigger beingmovable to release container contents through the nozzle. The containercan further comprise a trigger guard extending along a triggerperimeter, the trigger guard limiting access to the trigger across theperimeter. The container can further comprise a vented cover in useretaining the dispensing accessory proximal to the container. The ventedcover can comprise an open end and vent end. The open end can beconfigured to receive the trunk, the nozzle end, and the nozzle, and toconnect to the container proximal to the reservoir end. The vent end cancomprise a plurality of vent openings through the vented cover, the ventopenings positioned to facilitate airflow around the nozzle when thevented cover is in use. The vented cover in use can connect to thecontainer to define an accessory storage volume between the vented coverand the container, and at least part of the dispensing accessory can beconfined in the storage volume when the vented cover is in use.

FIGURES

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of an embodiment of the dispensing device.

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the above embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a side section view of the above embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a front view of an embodiment of a dispensing nozzle with atrigger guard showing a trigger perimeter.

FIG. 5 is a side section view of another embodiment

FIG. 6 is an exploded view of another embodiment including a triggercap, a cover nozzle opening and an accessory nozzle opening.

FIG. 7 is a side section view of the above embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a side section view of another embodimer

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The vented dispensing device can comprise a dispensing accessory and acontainer. The container can hold dispensable material such as cleaningfluid, finishes like polish and wax, powder, compressed air and othergases, and various other materials and combinations thereof.

The container can comprise various geometric and organic shapes. Thecontainer can be cylindrical, prismatic, cone-shaped, and various shapesand combinations thereof.

The container can be configured with engagement features, for example,depressions, protrusions, hooks, forks, and various other features andcombinations thereof.

The container can further comprise a plurality of content sections, forexample, separate sections for holding different contents.

The container can comprise a nozzle end, a reservoir end, and a trunkconnecting the nozzle end and the reservoir end. The container can beopen at the nozzle end, and can have various other openings.

The dispensing accessory can be utilized to apply container contents,can be utilized to remove dispensed container contents, for exampleexcess material, overspray, and used cleaning fluid, can be used tobuff, polish, shine, and otherwise affect finish.

The dispensing accessory can be a towel, a soft pad, a sponge, andvarious other accessories and combinations thereof. The dispensingaccessory can be a brush, a cotton ball, and a swab.

The container can comprise a dispensing nozzle for dispensing containercontents. The dispensing nozzle can selectively open and close thecontainer. The dispensing nozzle can close the container at the nozzleend.

The dispensing nozzle can comprise a pump, a valve, a hinged flap, andvarious dispensing mechanisms and combinations thereof. The dispensingnozzle can comprise an opening such as an orifice, an aperture, and anelongate tube. The dispensing nozzle can comprise a plurality ofopenings. The dispensing nozzle can have an open position and a closedposition. The dispensing nozzle can have a plurality of open positions,for example, when utilized with a container having a plurality ofcontent sections, the open positions from the plurality of openpositions can correlate to respective container content sections.

The container can further comprise a vented cover. The vented cover canfacilitate retaining the dispensing accessory proximal to the container.The vented cover in use can connect to the container and define anaccessory storage volume between the vented cover and the container.

The vented cover can receive at least part of the container within thevented cover. For example, the vented cover can be configured to enclosethe container including the nozzle within the storage volume.Alternatively, the vented cover can enclose the vented cover except forthe nozzle within the storage volume. Alternatively, the vented covercan be configured to enclose the nozzle in one position, and to enclosethe container except for the nozzle in another position. Alternatively,the vented cover can connect to the container and not receive a part ofthe container within the vented cover.

The vented cover can comprise a vent opening extending through thevented cover. The vent opening can facilitate air flow into and out ofthe accessory storage volume to ventilate the accessory storage volume.

The vent opening can be positioned on the vented cover to ventilate apredetermined part of the storage volume, for example, to ventilate thestorage volume proximal to the nozzle. Similarly, other parts of thestorage volume where moisture is likely to collect can be targeted bypositioning the vent opening to ventilate the predetermined part of thestorage volume. The vented cover can comprise an open end and a nozzleend and can be configured to receive the container including the nozzlethrough the open end so that the nozzle is positioned proximal thenozzle end when the vented cover is in use.

The vented cover, in use connected to the container, can confine atleast part of the dispensing accessory within the accessory storagevolume. Confining part of the dispensing accessory within the accessorystorage volume can facilitate retaining the dispensing accessoryproximal to the container when the dispensing accessory is not in use.

When the vented cover is in use and part of the dispensing accessory isconfined within the accessory storage volume, the vent opening canfacilitate drying the accessory and can prevent accumulation of excesscontainer content on the accessory and within the storage volume.

The vented cover can comprise a plurality of vent openings. Theplurality of vent openings can be positioned on the vented cover so thateach vent opening ventilates one or more predetermined parts of thestorage volume.

The vented cover can be configured to define a plurality of accessorystorage volumes between the vented cover and the container, when thevented cover is in use. The vented cover can confine at least parts ofdispensing accessories from a plurality of dispensing accessories withinthe plurality of accessory storage volumes.

The container can comprise a plurality of vented covers and each coverfrom the plurality of vented covers can connect to the containerdirectly and can connect to the container via connecting to anothercover from the plurality of vented covers.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 1, 2, and 3, the dispensing device 10comprises a dispensing accessory 11, a container 21, a dispensing nozzle25, and a vented cover 31.

The dispensing accessory 11 comprises a cloth-like accessory forapplying, distributing, and removing dispensed container contents.

The container 21 comprises a generally cylindrically-shaped trunk 24with a reduced neck at the nozzle end 22 and a largercylindrically-shaped reservoir end 23. The nozzle 25 closes thecontainer 21 at the nozzle end 22.

The vented cover 31 connects to the container 21 and defines anaccessory storage volume 41 between the vented cover 31 and thecontainer 21. In use, the vented cover 31 receives the container 21through the vented cover open end 34 and connects to the container 21proximal the container reservoir end 23. The vented cover 31 enclosesthe nozzle 25 within the accessory storage volume 41.

The vented cover 31 comprises a plurality of vent openings, such as thevent opening 32. The vent opening 32 extends through the vented cover 31and enables air to flow through the vented cover 31 and facilitatesventilating the storage volume 41. In use connected to the container 21,the vent opening 32 is positioned at the vent end 35 to ventilate thestorage volume 41 proximal to the nozzle 25.

As shown explicitly in FIGS. 1 and 3, the dispensing accessory 11 isconfined within the storage volume 41 when the vented cover 21 is inuse. The cloth-like accessory 11 can drape over the nozzle 25 and extendalong the container trunk 24. With the vented cover 31 in use connectedto the container 21, the dispensing accessory 11 is substantiallyconfined within the accessory storage volume 41 between the vented cover31 and the container 21.

Additionally, when the dispensing accessory 11 is confined within thestorage volume 41 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the vent opening 32 ispositioned to ventilate the middle part of the dispensing accessory 11.Observations of common usage have shown that the middle part of thecloth-like accessory 11 can accumulate excess container contents and sobenefits from maximum ventilation.

The nozzle can comprise a trigger for causing the nozzle to dispensecontainer contents. The trigger can be movable to release containercontents through the nozzle. The trigger can activate another componentto cause release of container contents. The trigger can cause dispensingvia various means and methods.

The trigger can comprise a spray head with a finger-positioningdepression, a lever for pumping container contents from the containerthrough the nozzle, a valve release actuator, and a pushbutton. Thetrigger can comprise various other mechanisms and indicators andcombinations thereof, which facilitate dispensing container contents viathe nozzle.

The nozzle 25 of the container 21 comprises a trigger 26. The trigger 26is movable to release container contents, for example, to releasepressurized gases.

The container can further comprise a trigger cap. The trigger cap canprevent unintentional trigger movement and can prevent accidentaldispensing of the container contents. The trigger cap can be positionedproximal to the trigger and can limit contact between the dispensingaccessory and the trigger, especially when the dispensing accessory isconfined within the storage volume.

The trigger cap can enclose the trigger and can enclose the nozzle.Alternatively, the trigger cap can extend adjacent to the trigger tolimit contact between the dispensing accessory and the trigger.

The trigger cap can comprise a trigger guard extending along a triggerperimeter, where the trigger perimeter at least party encircles thetrigger. The trigger guard can limit access to the trigger across theperimeter and enable access to the trigger from other directions. Thetrigger guard can provide similar protection as the trigger cap againstaccidental discharge while still enabling selective access to thetrigger while the trigger guard is in use.

As shown in FIGS. 2, 3, and 4, the container 21 includes a trigger capcomprising a trigger guard 28. The trigger guard 28 extends over thetrigger 26 along a trigger perimeter 29, and limits access to thetrigger 26 across the trigger perimeter 29. With the trigger guard 28 inuse, access to the trigger 26 is enabled through (but not across) thetrigger perimeter 29. When the dispensing accessory 11 is confinedwithin the storage volume 41, the dispensing accessory 11 can be spacedapart from the trigger 26 by the trigger guard 28 to prevent accidentaldischarge of container contents.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the dispensing device 110 comprises acontainer 121. The container 121 is generally cylindrically-shapedincluding a reduced neck at the nozzle end 22 and a larger trunk 24connecting the nozzle end 22 and the reservoir end 23.

The container 121 comprises a nozzle 25 with a trigger 26, where thenozzle 25 closes the container 121 at the nozzle end 22. The container121 further comprises a trigger cap 27. The trigger cap 27 in use fullycovers the trigger 26 to prevent accidental discharge.

The vented cover 31 of the dispensing device 110 connects to thecontainer 121 proximal the trunk 24, enclosing the reservoir end 23 andnot enclosing the nozzle 22 and the trigger cap 27. The dispensingaccessory 11 is confined within the accessory storage volume 41 when thevented cover 31 is in use. The vented cover 31 comprises a plurality ofvent openings, such as the vent opening 32, and the vent opening 32 ispositioned on the vent cover 31 so that the storage volume 41 isventilated proximal to the dispensing accessory 11.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the dispensing device 210comprises a container 21, a dispensing accessory 211, and a vented cover231. The dispensing accessory 211 further comprises an accessory nozzleopening 12 through the middle part of the dispensing accessory 211. Thevented cover 231 further comprises a cover nozzle opening 33 through thevent end 35 of the vented cover 231.

The container 21 comprises a nozzle 25 with a trigger 26, where thenozzle 25 closes the container 21 at the nozzle end 22. The container 21further comprises a trigger cap 27. The trigger cap 27 in use fullycovers the trigger 26 to prevent accidental discharge.

The vented cover 231 connects to the container 21 and defines anaccessory storage volume 41 between the vented cover 231 and thecontainer 21. In use, the vented cover 331 receives the container 21through the vented cover open end 34 and connects to the container 21proximal the reservoir end 23. The vented cover 31 encloses thecontainer 21 and not the nozzle 25 within the accessory storage volume

When the vented cover 31 is in use, the nozzle 25 and the trigger cap 27protrude through the accessory nozzle opening 12 and through the covernozzle opening 33 so that the nozzle 25 and the trigger cap 27 areaccessible when the vented cover 231 is in use.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 8, the dispensing device 310 comprises avent cover 231 having a cover nozzle opening 33 and a dispensingaccessory 11 with no accessory nozzle opening. When the vented cover 231is in use, the nozzle 25 and the trigger cap 27 protrude through thecover nozzle opening 33 but are covered by the dispensing accessory 11.The dispensing accessory 11 drapes over the nozzle 25 and the triggercap 27 and passes into the accessory storage volume 41 through the covernozzle opening 33 to be confined within the storage volume 41.

We claim:
 1. A vented dispensing device comprising: a removabledispensing accessory; a container that includes: a dispensing nozzle todispense container contents; a removable vented cover having at leastone vent opening adapted to retain the dispensing accessory proximal tothe container in a storage configuration; the vented cover defining anaccessory storage volume between the vented cover and the container inthe storage configuration, said vented cover allowing removal of thedispensing accessory in a use configuration.
 2. The dispensing device ofclaim 1 wherein the vented cover further comprises a plurality of ventopenings.
 3. The dispensing device of claim 1 wherein the vented coverencloses the dispensing nozzle.
 4. The dispensing device of claim 1wherein the vented cover contains a dispensing nozzle opening, thedispensing nozzle protruding through the dispensing nozzle opening inthe storage configuration.
 5. The dispensing nozzle of claim 1 whereinthe dispensing accessory is a cloth.
 6. The dispensing nozzle of claim 2wherein said vent openings are substantially uniformly distributedaround said vented cover.
 7. The dispensing nozzle of claim 1 whereinsaid dispensing nozzle is connected to a dispensing pump.
 8. A method ofstoring a removable towel in a dispenser container cover comprising:providing a dispensing container with a dispensing nozzle; providing avented cover adapted to fit over said dispensing container; providing aspace between said vented cover and said dispensing container adapted toreceive said removable towel in a storage configuration, whereby saidtowel can receive air circulation from at least one vent in said ventedcover.
 9. The method of claim 8 wherein said vented cover contains aplurality of vents.
 10. The method of claim 9 wherein the vents areelongated.
 11. A method for providing a wipe accessory with a dispensingcontainer and allowing the towel to dry when not in use comprising:adapting a dispensing container and cover to receive and store a wipeaccessory draped over the container by providing a towel storage spacebetween the container and the cover; adapting said cover to allow aircirculation through the wipe accessory by providing a plurality of slotsin the cover.
 12. The method of claim 11 wherein said slots areelongated.
 13. The method of claim 11 wherein said dispensing containerincludes a dispensing nozzle.
 14. The method of claim 12 wherein saiddispensing nozzle includes a trigger movable to release contents of thecontainer through said dispensing nozzle.
 15. The method of claim 11wherein said dispensing container dispenses a liquid.
 16. The method ofclaim 13 wherein said dispensing nozzle is connected to a dispensingpump.
 17. The method of claim 11 wherein the wipe accessory is a towel.